[demlosers]

I've never heard that before. I know that enlisted folks do not salute cadets, but they certainly salute warrants.

Your notion is correct. The cadet rank isn't even above an E-1. They've got to wait until their swiggle line shoulder boards are replaced with butter bars.

[A Simple Soldier]

dem,

Sorry, but I am right. Technically, an Academy cadet or midshipman outranks the Sergeant Major of the Army, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, etc.

They are not saluted by enlisted personnel while on the grounds of the Academies as a matter of policy, but they do actually rate a salute and are supposed to be addressed as sir/ma'am. When cadets are at a post/base in large numbers, usually a blanket non-saluting policy is put in place, but I am right on this. If you want to see for yourself, look at Title 10 of US Code.